The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare, three nights' accommodations, and hotel taxes, from $655 per person—plus $33 in airport taxes.
When: Sept. 1-Dec. 14, 2008.
Gateways: San Francisco; add $14 for L.A.; $350 for Denver; $360 for Orlando; $400 for New York City; additional cities available.
The fine print: Does not include airport taxes and fees of about $33 per person. Based on double occupancy; single supplement starts at $811. Some departure cities have shorter booking windows; it's best to call for details. Lowest rates based on Monday departures. Kids 12 and under stay for free; kids 13 and up will pay the adult rate. Use booking code IND. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.
Book by: Sept. 30, 2008.
Contact: Pleasant Holidays, 800/448-3333 , pleasantholidays.com.
Why it's a deal: A recent Kayak search produced an early September round-trip flight between San Francisco and Kahului Airport on Hawaiian Airlines for $622 . For just $66 more per person (including taxes), Pleasant Holidays covers airfare as well as three nights' accommodations. Plus, you'll save time by booking it all at once. But be sure to act fast: As of press time, the package price had already increased from an original rate of $505 to $655!
Trip details: The Aston Maui Lu promotion covers round-trip airfare on United Airlines (or a similar carrier) to Kahului Airport on the island of Maui.
It's about 10 miles from the airport to the hotel; transfers aren't included. A taxi ride will cost about $33. Or, you can use the bus, which will cost $2.
You'll check in to a garden-view room at the Aston Maui Lu, your base for three nights. The rooms have mini fridges (in case you want to save some money by preparing your own meals). You can take advantage of the outdoor swimming pool (in the shape of Maui), tennis courts, and children's programs; a golf course is close by, and there's access to two private beach coves.
The hotel is located on a 28-acre coconut grove—Maui's oldest—in Kihei, on the island's western side. As late as the '70s, Kihei's beaches were almost barren—miles of sugary sand. Now they're home to miles of condos, too. But the town still has a relatively youthful and authentic energy.
Fall is low season in Maui, so you can escape the crowds. Temperatures will remain mild, in the 70s, and the rainy season starts in November, with short bursts of showers. If you're lucky, and especially if you buy tickets for a whale-watching expedition, you may see some of the whales that migrate past the island in November and December.
Looking to stay longer? Add nights starting from $103 per person per night. Pleasant Holidays has stays at some other properties in Maui on sale.
For more ideas on what to do, visit Hawaii's official tourism site.
